Ditch filler



A. L. MEYER DITCI-I FILLER Nov. 7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5. 1948 I l o H lll llll A. L. MEYER DITCH FILLER Npv. 7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1948 JillMyer I Patented Nov. 7, 1950 opt cs mrcn FILLER .Alvin L..Mey,e'r, Fail-field, Mont} ApplicationJa-nuary 5, 1948L-seriamb. 62's IClai m;

' This invention relates to. ditch fillers: object of this invention is toprovid-eca' device for "moving earth intocditches, the device" :in-' eluding a frame .for couplingto :the rear of a tractor: and aprovided with two sets .of disks which are :angularly adjustable with respect to the lineof travel, so that the earth-can be shiftedito the desired degree.

Another object ofthis'invention is to provide in a device of this kind "animproved means for raising-or loweringthe disks while atzthe-same time usinga castor wheel attherearof the frame.

A further object of this invention is .to provide:

and;earth-workingmachine of this kind which includes a pair of disk units mounted on a mobile frame, with the disk-unitsang'ularly adjustable relative ,to each other so that the earth may be moved inwardly toward the center of the frame or toward the opposite orouter ends of the frame. The disk units may also be disposed in alignment and atright angles to the line of travel so as toloosen'or breakup the earth without shifting of the earth.

To the foregoing objects, and others whichmay hereinafter more fully appear the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred toand illustrated in; the accompanying drawings, but'it is to be understoodthat changes, variations, and modifications may be resortedto whichfall within the scopelof -the invention as claimed. a V

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a ditch filler or earthworking machine constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure l. 5

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In surface irrigation it is the general practice to run surface ditches, after the crop has been planted, for the purpose of spreading water over the land surface. Just before the crop is to be harvested, it is necessary that the surface ditches be refilled so that the harvesting machines will be provided with a relatively smooth surface upon which to operate.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated a ditch filler for this purpose in which the numeral i0 designates generally a frame which is adapted to be coupled to the rear of a tractor. The frame I0 is formed of a front frame bar II, a rear frame bar l2 and opposite end frame bars l3 and M. The frame bars H to H are formed of angle iron having one side thereof horizontal and the other side vertical and the" end oriouter frame bars I3 and I4 are disposedin forwardly convergent relation. The front or forward framebar I I has fixed thereto a pair of vertically disposed angle members l5 which are disposed in spaced relation and a couplingbar I6" is extended-through aligned vertically spaced apart openings I1 formed in' the angle i members l5. The frame Ill also includes a transversel y disposed plate 18 which is fixed between the outer end members 13, I4 and is formed adjacent the opposite ends thereof with a plurality ofopenings [9, the purpose for'whichwill'be hereinafter described. t

A pair of disk units, generallydesignated-as 20, are disposed beneath the frame H] at the rear portion-thereof-and each disk unit includes a plate 2| engaging beneath the frame l0 adjacent the o'uterend thereof. The plate 2| is pivotallysecured to the rear frame bar l2 by means of a pivot bolt 22 engaging through a selected one of aseries of spaced openings 23 formed in the rear frame bar l2. The plate 21 also form'ed-withan arcuate series of openings 24-and a locking bolt Zingages' through aselected one of the openings [9 and a selected sneer the openings 24. In this manner the disk units :zolma be angularly adjusted with respect to each other so that these units may be disposed with the disks thereof in either forwardly divergent or forwardly convergent relation or with the disks of oneunit disposed in axial align ment with the disks of the other unit. The plate 2| has disposed therebeneath a disk shaft 26 which is journalled in a pair of bearings 21 which are carried by depending hangers 2B which are fixed at their upper ends to the lower side of the plate 2|. The shaft 25 has fixed thereon a plurality of disks 29 which are adapted to engage the earth so that the earth may be either loosened when the disks are in axial alignment or the earth may be shifted either inwardly toward the center of the frame or toward the opposite V or outer ends of the frame.

The frame It has fixed in the longitudinal center thereof a lengthwise extending tubular member 30 which forms a supporting means for a. vertically adjustable caster wheel. The rear of the tubular member 30 has fixed thereto a vertically disposed tubular or sleeve like bearing 3| within which a vertically disposed shaft 32 is loosely mounted. The shaft 32 is adapted to be adjusted endwise in the bearing sleeve 3| and may also rotate inthis sleeve. 7 The lower end of the shaft 32 has fixed thereto a fork 33 between the arms of which a caster wheel 34 is rotatably mounted. An elongated vertically disposed rack 35 is disposed on the forward side of the bearing sleeve 31 and is provided at its lower end with a right-angularly disposed and rearwardly extending bearing 35 through which the shaft 32 is loosely mounted. The shaft 32 has fixed thereon upper and lower collars 31 and 38 bearing against the opposite ends of thebearing 36 so that the shaft 32 will be vertically adjusted when the rack 35 is vertically adjusted.

The tubular member 39 has mounted there- This device will provide a multi-unit disk construction which may have varied uses by the user, the use as a ditch filler being only one of the many uses for the device.

I claim:

An earthworking machine comprising a horizontally disposed frame including a transversely extending plate adjacent the rear end thereof, a plurality of transversely spaced apart openings formed in {said plate along the rear edge and adjacent each of the opposite ends thereof, a plurality of openings formed along the forward edge of said plate adjacent the opposite ends thereof above a pair of parallel angle members 39 which;

are carried by upright supporting bars 40 fixed means of a pair of securing members 4| and spacer sleeves 42 are interposed between th'eangle members 39 and engage about the securing members 4l-. The rearmost one of the spacer'mem bers, designated 42a, forms a roller against which the rear side of the rack 35 is adapted to movably engage. A'gear 43 is disposed between the angle members 39 being secured to a shaft 44Iand a rack adjusting wheel 45 is fixed to one end of the shaft 44. The wheel 45 is adapted to beilocked against rotation by means of a locking bolt 45 which slidably engages through the angle members 39 and is movable between a pair of the spokes 47 of the wheel 45 so that the wheel 45 will be firmly locked against rotation.

. In the use and operation of this device, the forward end of the frame I!) is adapted to be connected to the rear of a tractor vehicle and the forward end may be. vertically adjusted relative to the tractor vehicle by disposing the horizontal coupling bar H5 in selected pairs of the vertically spaced openings 11 in the vertical angle members l5. The disk units may be angularly adjusted relative to each other by removing the bolt and swinging the plate 21 of each unit with the bolt 22 as a pivot. The disk units may be adjusted to dispose the disk shafts 26 thereof rotating the adjusting wheel 45 so as to raise or lower the rack and to raise or lower therewith the bearing sleeve 3|.

The frame It] with the disks 29 below each end of said transversely extending .plate, pivot means extending through selected ones of said first openings and said swingable plates for mounting the latter upon said frame, each of said swingable plates being provided with a plurality of spaced arcuately arranged openings therethrough disposed equi-distant from said pivot means, locking means engaging through said selected ones of said openings formed along the forward edge of said transverse plate and said arcuately arranged openings for maintaining said swingable plates in selected angular disposition relative to said frame, a shaft journalled below each of said swingable plates, and a plurality of disc members disposed on each of said shafts whereby said disc members may be adjusted outwardly, inwardly,and angularly relative to said frame.

ALVIN MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 214,440 Payne Apr. 15, 1879 471,209 Cordes Mar. 22, 1892 724,650 Zobel Apr. 7, 1903 872,957 7 Mohr et a1 Dec. 3, 1907 941,127 Braun Nov. 23, 1909 "1,013,382 East Jan. 2, 1912 1,620,697 Spence Mar. 15, 1927 1,786,863 Peterson Dec. 30, 1930 2,101,187 Olson Dec. 7, 1937 2,152,347 Ferraro Mar. 28, 1939 2,286,305 Priestly June 16, 1942 

